Hedwig Fijen, founding director of Manifesta, the European Nomadic Biennial, will step down on October 5. Emilia van Lynden and Catherine Nichols will succeed her as general director and artistic director respectively, as announced by the supervisory board of the International Foundation Manifesta. Fijen, who was commissioned by the Netherlands Office for Fine Arts in 1991 to develop a pan-European platform, has led Manifesta through editions in Palermo, Pristina, Barcelona, and the upcoming 2026 edition in the Ruhr region. Van Lynden has served as deputy director since 2019, while Nichols, a Berlin-based curator, contributed as creative mediator for the 2022 edition and artistic board member for 2026. The new leadership will begin with Manifesta 17 in Coimbra, Portugal, in 2028.
This leadership transition marks a pivotal moment for Manifesta, one of Europe's most prominent nomadic biennials, as it prepares for its 17th edition. Fijen's departure after more than three decades signals a generational shift, with van Lynden and Nichols bringing institutional continuity and fresh curatorial perspectives. The change comes at a time when biennials face evolving challenges around sustainability, local engagement, and global relevance, making the new directors' vision critical for Manifesta's future direction.